Aljamain Sterling-Cory Sandhagen Bantamweight Battle Scheduled for UFC 250

Funk Bandits, it’s official! My contract is signed! Quarantine beard and mustache are in prime form! Let’s get FUNKY!
#FightIsland #UFC250 #TeamEverlastufc pic.twitter.com/6hPLpApTwd

— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) May 21, 2020

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The stakes for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s next pay-per-view card have just gone up significantly.

Aljamain Sterling (18-3) posted on his Twitter page on Thursday with news of his next fight. He will be competing at UFC 250 on June 6, and he will be taking on Cory Sandhagen (12-1) at bantamweight. Sandhagen confirmed the matchup on his Instagram. Both men are currently ranked in the top 5 at 135 pounds in the Sherdog.com rankings.

Sterling has beaten his last four opponent since suffering a quick knockout at the hands -- and knees -- of Marlon Moraes in 2017. In addition to decisions over Brett Johns, Jimmie Rivera and Pedro Munhoz, Sterling hit an unusual Suloev Stretch kneebar on Cody Stamann at UFC 228. Although that move was later replicated that same night by Zabit Magomedsharipov, the man known as “Funk Master” is one of three fighters in promotional history to land that submission.

Like his opponent, Sandhagen is surging as well. Unbeaten since making his organizational debut, the 28-year-old has dispatched Austin Arnett, Iuri Alcantara, Mario Bautista, John Lineker and Raphael Assuncao in less than two years. The Elevation Fight Team standout’s sole blemish on his record came to UFC newcomer Jamall Emmers at LFA 5 in 2017, and Sandhagen has won seven straight since the defeat.

UFC 250 is planned to take place on June 6 at a currently undisclosed location, but the venue is expected to be the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The pay-per-view event does not have an official headlining match, although scheduled for the card is a women’s featherweight title affair between two-division champ Amanda Nunes and Felicia Spencer.